Synthesis of Gradient Copolymer Brushes via Surface Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Copolymerization

Published

January 1, 2005

Author(s)

Chang Xu, Tao Wu, Charles M. Drain, J Batteas, Kathryn L. Beers

Abstract

Gradually altering the monomer composition of the polymerization mixture, surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization was used to synthesize gradient copolymer brushes of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) from flat silicon surfaces. By stopping the reaction at different polymerization time, we were able to monitor the polymerization process. Under our polymerization conditions, the polymerization is living and a nearly linear growth of polymer brushes thickness was observed. With increasing HEMA concentration in the polymerization mixture, the surface of the polymer brush becomes more hydrophilic, indicating high HEMA composition in the synthesized films.

Citation

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

contact angle measurements, controlled polymerization, elliposmetry, gradient copolymers, surface energy gradients, surface grafted

Citation

Xu, C. , Wu, T. , Drain, C. , Batteas, J. and Beers, K. (2005), Synthesis of Gradient Copolymer Brushes via Surface Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Copolymerization, Journal of the American Chemical Society, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=852382 (Accessed October 11, 2025)